Curriculum

Foundation Stage

There are
seven areas of learning and development that shape educational programmes in
early years settings. All areas of learning and development are important and
inter-connected. Three areas are particularly crucial for igniting children’s
curiosity and enthusiasm for learning, and for building their capacity to
learn, form relationships and thrive.

The three
Prime Areas, are:

Communication
and Language Development

Involves
giving children opportunities to experience a rich language environment, to
develop their confidence and skills in expressing themselves, and to speak and
listen in a range of situations.

Physical
Development

Involves
providing opportunities for young children to be active and interactive, and to
develop their co-ordination, control, and movement. Children must also be
helped to understand the importance of physical activity, and to make healthy
choices in relation to food.

Personal,
Emotional and Social Development

Involves
helping children to develop a positive sense of themselves, and others; to form
positive relationships and develop respect for others, to develop social skills
and learn how to manage their feelings; to understand appropriate behaviour in
groups, and to have confidence in their own abilities.

We
support children in the four Specific Areas, through which the three Prime
Areas are strengthened and applied.

The Specific
Areas are:

Literacy

Involves
encouraging children to link sounds and letters and to begin to read and write.
Children are given access to range of reading materials to ignite their
interest.

Mathematics

Involves
providing children with opportunities to develop and improve their skills in
counting, understanding and using numbers, calculating simple addition and
subtraction problems and to describe shapes, spaces and measures.

Understanding
the World

Involves
guiding children to make sense of their physical world and their community
through opportunities to explore, observe and find out about people, places,
technology and the environment.

Expressive
Arts and Design

Involves
enabling children to explore and play with a wide range of media and materials,
as well as providing opportunities and encouragement for sharing their
thoughts, ideas and feelings through a variety of activities in art, music,
movement, dance, role-play, and design and technology.